Ulla Johnson, a name synonymous with artisanal, globally-inspired womenswear, has now composed a scent. After a quarter-century defining a distinct visual language in fashion, the designer introduces a fragrance collection, grounding her brand in the intimate, invisible history of personal aroma. For The Lingerie Museum, this move echoes a tradition where fashion houses expand into the sensory, much like the legendary lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, which from its 1994 inception used fragrance as an extension of its provocative, lace-adorned identity, creating a holistic aura of allure.
Johnson’s trio of eaux de parfum—Drift Rose, Baroque Garden, Adriatic Gold—speak to a narrative of wanderlust, a concept not unfamiliar to lingerie. The delicate transport of scent mirrors the private confidence a perfectly engineered garment from a house like La Perla, founded in 1954, can provide; both are layers of self-expression worn close to the skin. The collection’s porcelain caps, inspired by 19th-century snuff bottles, and handcrafted vessels further Johnson’s commitment to tangible craft, a principle shared by heritage corsetieres who treated underwear as architecture.
Johnson describes the process as "alchemical and witchy," a sentiment that resonates with the almost mystical transformation a foundational garment can enact. As her CEO notes, this expansion is deliberate, built step-by-step, mirroring the meticulous growth of iconic intimate apparel brands. While Johnson eyes future beauty categories like color-saturated makeup, this fragrant chapter completes a sensory loop. It invites the wearer into a full experience where textile, texture, and now scent are interwoven, crafting a personal history as layered as the most intricate silk chemise.
Originally reported by WWD